PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A city committee will consider changes to Portland’s general assistance program after a state audit found violations. The state reimburses all cities and towns for a portion of general assistance spending. Portland includes the operating costs for its emergency shelter, but the state wants the city to bill based on … Read more
… Although a few dozen people came to council chambers to listen to the proceedings, only one person spoke during a public comment period. Mark Swann, executive director of the social services provider Preble Street, acknowledged the difficult position the city has been placed in, but urged the councilors to continue Portland’s commitment to serving … Read more
A lot of words have already been written in reaction to the "gotcha" revelation by Gov. LePage and Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew that some of the chronically homeless in Portland have sizable bank accounts, followed by the city’s attempt to inject reason into the discussion and, finally, the honest and poignant statement … Read more
The sound bite was meant to shock and outrage: People with money are staying at a Portland shelter for years at a time, the Department of Health and Human Services said, pointing an angry finger at Portland officials. Gov. Paul LePage has long been at odds with Portland over payments for social services. Now, he … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – A recent audit of Portland’s homeless shelters has highlighted what some state officials say is mismanagement of General Assistance funds. At issue is a city policy that allows some long-term shelter residents with substantial savings in the bank to access services. Homeless advocates and city representatives say the state is oversimplifying a … Read more
No one chooses to be homeless. It’s a hard life, especially during a winter like this one. You wait in line for food, wait in line to use the bathroom, wait in line for a place to sleep. Homeless people get sick more often than the rest of the population, according to the U.S. Centers … Read more
PORTLAND (WGME) — Portland democrats and city leaders are defending the use of homeless shelters for people who may have money in the bank. This comes after a report shows some people staying in the city’s overnight shelters have thousands of dollars in assets. But city leaders say the people in that report are mentally … Read more
… Mark Swann, executive director of the nonprofit Preble Street, which provides many services to Portland’s homeless community, said a recent survey of the shelter system’s 30 longest-term residents found that all 30 "had serious and persistent mental illness." Swann said shelters in Maine have become de facto mental health institutions and are "overflowing with … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine -Portland city leaders and advocates for the homeless are fighting back saying, "There’s another side of the story." On Friday, city leaders and homeless advocates told their side of the story after the LePage administration called the mayor and others irresponsible when it comes to doling out general assistance funds. This after a … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – City and state leaders from Portland pushed back Friday against claims by the LePage Administration that the city is in violation of the General Assistance program. A state audit of the program found that some long time users of the city’s shelter had large sums of money in the bank … Read more
